Foundation awards community grants

December 5, 2012

PARKERSBURG - Our Community's Foundation announced more than $200,000 through its Fall Community Action Grants going to organizations throughout the region.

"I think people who have never been part of a foundation or organization that awards funds would think that it can be easy to give away money, but it is really difficult because there are so many deserving organizations out there and only so much money available to give out," said Marian Clowes, program development officer for the foundation, Tuesday.

The foundation includes the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation and the Regional Affiliate Foundations of Doddridge, Ritchie, Jackson, Mason counties and the Little Kanawha Area, which covers Wood, Wirt, Ritchie, Doddridge, Mason, Calhoun, Gilmer, Roane, Pleasants and Jackson counties in West Virginia, and Washington County, Ohio.

Article Photos

Photo by Jolene CraigMarian Clowes, program and development officer for Our Community’s Foundation – including the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation and the Regional Affiliates of Doddridge, Jackson, Little Kanawha Area, Mason and Ritchie Counties, speaks at the organization’s fall grant awards announcement Tuesday.

The $205,378 in total grants awarded included $136,888 by the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation to 28 organizations; $6,912 by the Jackson County Community Foundation; $56,778 distributed by the Mason County Community Foundation affiliate; $1,400 by the Doddridge County Community Foundation affiliate; $2,500 by the Ritchie County Community Foundation affiliate; and $900 in grants by the Little Kanawha Area Foundation affiliate.

Another $51,000 in grants was awarded by Our Community's Foundation to schools in its West Virginia service counties in support of projects integrating the arts with science, technology, engineering and math and to develop partnerships between schools and artists, arts organizations and/or higher education institutions.

This year's recipient organizations were chosen for their focus on either economic development, education or increased civic involvement, Clowes said.

Founded in 1963, Our Community's Foundation serves the region by building permanent charitable funds to benefit the communities. Nationally certified, the foundation manages more than 400 named charitable funds, representing $32.5 million in assets.

This year's fall grant recipients are:

Parkersburg Area Community Foundation Grants

* City of Ravenswood - $500.

* Doddridge County 4H Foundation - $5,000.

* Doddridge County 4H Teen Leaders - $600.

* Elizabeth Volunteer Fire Department - $5,000.

* Glendale Women's Club - $5,000.

* Heartwood in the Hills - $3,500.

* Marietta College -$2,000.

* Mason County Library - $1,000.

* Mid-Ohio Valley Fellowship Home - $10,000.

* New Haven and Community Volunteer Fire Department - $1,100.

* NFS Ministries - $9,038.

* Old Man Rivers - $10,000.

* Opportunity Council - $9,000.

* Our Lady of Guadalupe Migrant Ministry - $3,000.

* Parchment Valley Baptist Church - $7,500.

* Parkersburg Art Center - $8,000.

* Parkersburg Day Nursery - $8,000.

* Pleasant Valley Hospital - $2,150.

* The Bomar Club - $5,000.

* The Education Alliance - $3,500.

* Theatre West Virginia - $2,000.

* Volunteer Action Center of the Mid-Ohio Valley - $8,000.

* West Virginia University at Parkersburg Foundation - $4,000.

* West Virginia University Foundation - $2,000.

* Wood County 4-H Leaders Association - $5,000.

* Wood County Habitat for Humanity - $5,000.

* Wood County Master Gardeners - $4,500.

* Wood County Senior Citizens Association - $7,500.

Doddridge County Community Foundation Grants

* Doddridge County 4H Teen Leaders - $1,400.

Jackson County Community Foundation Grants

* City of Ravenswood - $1,000.

* Parchment Valley Baptist Church - $2,500.

* The Bomar Club - $2,500.

* West Virginia University Foundation - $912.

Little Kanawha Area Community Foundation Grants

* Elizabeth Volunteer Fire Department - $600.

* West Virginia University Foundation - $300.

Mason County Community Foundation Grants

* Beale Elementary School - $1,000.

* Bend Area Community Center - $1,200.

* Contact Huntington - $1,750.

* Fort Randolph - $10,000.

* Gordon C. and Mildred R. Jackson Library and Media Center at Point Pleasant Junior/Senior High School - $16,500.

* Hannan High School - $1,000.

* Main Street Point Pleasant - $10,000.

* Make a Wish Foundation - $3,000.

* Mason County Alternative Education - $1,000.

* Mason County Library - $400.

* New Haven and Community Volunteer Fire Department - $1,100.

* Pleasant Valley Hospital - $3,000.

* Point Pleasant Intermediate School - total of $2,384 to support two programs.